Vodacom has extended the standard one-year warranty offered by cellphone manufacturers by an additional year, at no cost to cellphone users. This investment of R40m annually will increase the value offering to Vodacom prepaid and contract subscribers, bringing them added peace of mind. The extended warranty will apply to all new phones used on the Vodacom network.
According to Shameel Joosub, Managing Director of Vodacom Equipment Company, the Vodacom 2nd year warranty scheme will not only enhance subscriber confidence, but will encourage consumers to buy their new cellphones from an established retailer. "This will contribute to the reduction of the market for stolen cellphones.
"The Vodacom 2nd year warranty scheme is a first for South Africa and should help reduce the number of grey cellphone imports into the South African market," says Mr Joosub.
"Vodacom tests all phones to ensure compatibility with the network before introducing them to the market. The problem that arises with grey phones is that these phones have not been tested or approved for use on the Vodacom network.
"Vodacom Equipment Company supplies over 1,5 million new handsets a year to the South African market and is committed to reducing cellphone theft by introducing value added benefits such as the 2nd year warranty scheme," he says.
All cellphones imported into South Africa by Vodacom Equipment Company and sold via service providers, dealers and retailers will be covered by the Vodacom 2nd year warranty scheme.
Consumers will be able to identify these cellphones by the Vodacom 2nd year warranty scheme sticker placed on the outside of the cellphone box and the warranty card included inside the cellphone box.
The phone must have been used on the Vodacom network for a continuous period of at least 30 days in the last 90 days at the time of presenting the phone for repair under the warranty extension scheme. Consumers will incur no costs for repairs provided the terms and conditions of the 2nd year warranty scheme are met.
"Cellphone users will be asked to produce their warranty cards in the event of any claims against the extended warranty scheme," concludes Mr Joosub.
For more information on the Vodacom 2nd year warranty scheme and for the location of the nearest Vodacare outlet, subscribers can call Vodacom Customer Care on 111 from a Vodacom cellphone or 082 111 from a Telkom phone.
@EditorNote = Vodacom Equipment Company
In 1995 Vodacom began purchasing cellphones and then selling them to its service providers and dealers in order to attain better prices and better after sales service support on all cellular phones. This proved extremely successful and Vodacom Equipment Company (Pty) Ltd was incorporated.
Based at Vodaworld in Midrand, Vodacom Equipment Company sold close to 1.3 million handsets and showed a turnover of approximately R1.5 billion for the last financial year.
Vodacom Equipment Company currently sources eight different cellphone brands worldwide to meet customers` needs - Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola, Siemens, Panasonic, Philips and Samsung. Accessories for the above mentioned cellphone brands are also distributed, as well as other products required by customers when doing bundled packaging for promotions. Phones and accessories are acquired in bulk and distributed directly or indirectly to the entire Vodacom distribution chain. Vodacom Equipment Company currently sells and distributes stock to service providers, dealers and retailers countrywide.
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